Modifying the physicochemical properties,solubility and foaming capacity of milk proteins by ultrasound-assisted alkaline pH-shifting treatment

This study investigated the effects of different treatment of alkaline pH-shifting on milk protein concentrate (MPC), micellar casein concentrate (MCC) and whey protein isolate (WPI) assisted by the same ultrasound conditions, including changes in the physicochemical properties, solubility and foaming capacity. The solubility of milk proteins had a significant increase with gradual enhancement of ultrasound-assisted alkaline pH-shifting (p < 0.05), especially for MCC up to 99.50 %. Also, treatment made a significant decline in the particle size of MPC and MCC, as well as the turbidity of the proteins (p < 0.05). The foaming capacity of MPC, MCC, and WPI was all improved, especially at pH 11, and at this pH, the milk protein also showed the highest surface hydrophobicity. The best foaming capacity at pH 11 was the result of the combined effect of particle size, potential, protein conformation, solubility, and surface hydrophobicity. In conclusion, ultrasound-assisted pH-shifting treatment was found to be effective in improving the physicochemical properties and solubility and foaming capacity of milk proteins, especially MCC, with promising application prospect in food industry.     

Mechanistic Study of the Solvent-Dependent Formation of Extended and Stacked Supramolecular Polymers Composed of Bis(imidazolylporphyrinatozinc) Molecules

Bis(imidazolylporphyrinatozinc) molecules linked through a 1,3-butadiynylene moiety respond to the solvents they are dissolved in to afford exclusively extended (E) or stacked (S) supramolecular polymers. This system is expected to be a solvation/desolvation indicator. However, the principles underlying the solvent-dependent formation of the two types of polymers and the mechanism of the transformation between them are unclear. The formation of the polymers is considered to depend on the two types of complementary coordination bonds that can be formed and the π–π interactions between the porphyrins. In this study, the contributions and solvent dependence of both the coordination bonds and the π–π interactions have been investigated. The results clearly indicate that the coordination bonds are weakly or little solvent-dependent, and that the π–π interactions function effectively only in the inner porphyrins of the S-polymer and are strongly solvent-dependent. Thermodynamic analysis revealed that the formation of the E- or S-polymer in solution is determined by the total energies and the type of solvent used. The transformation of the E- to S-polymer was investigated by gel permeation chromatography. The kinetics of the transformation were also determined. The role of the terminal imidazolylporphyrinatozinc moieties was also investigated: The results indicate that the transformation from the E- to S-polymer occurs by an exchange mechanism between the polymers, induced by attack of terminal free imidazolyl groups on a polymer to zinc porphyrins on other polymers.     

Insight into copper-mordenite–silica mixtures (CuMOR–SiO2)

A series of ternary CuMOR–SiO₂ mixed materials were prepared by two synthesis approaches (CuMOR1–y–SiO₂ and CuMOR2–y–SiO₂). Extensive characterization was done for both series and some selected materials were tested in CO catalytic oxidation and NO reduction. The presence of CuMOR and SiO₂ segregated phases was observed in both series by XRD, suggesting that silica formation was not inhibited by the mordenite (MOR) presence. UV–Vis results exhibited that Cu ion exchange was successfully done for CuMOR1–y–SiO₂ series. In the CuMOR2–y–SiO₂ series, the amount of copper was below the sensitivity limit of EDS analysis. CuMOR1–50%–SiO₂ catalyst resulted with higher specific surface area and catalytic activity. A possible relation between reduction temperature, the increase in Cu plasmon excitation, and catalytic activity was observed.     

Self‐Assembly and Gelation of Poly(aryl ether) Dendrons Containing Hydrazide Units: Factors Controlling the Formation of Helical Structures

Self‐assembly of AB₂ and AB₃ type low molecular weight poly(aryl ether) dendrons that contain hydrazide units were used to investigate mechanistic aspects of helical structure formation during self‐assembly. The results suggest that there are three important aspects that control helical structure formation in such systems with acyl hydrazide/hydrazone linkage: i) J‐type aggregation, ii) the hydrogen‐bond donor/acceptor ability of the solvent, and iii) the dielectric constant of the solvent. The monomer units self‐assemble to form dimer structures through hydrogen‐bonding and further assembly of the hydrogen‐bonded dimers leads to macroscopic chirality in the present case. Dimer formation was confirmed by NMR spectroscopy and by mass spectrometry. The self‐assembly in the system was driven by hydrogen‐bonding and π–π stacking interactions. The morphology of the aggregates formed was examined by scanning electron microscopy, and the analysis suggests that aprotic solvent systems facilitate helical fibre formation, whereas introduction of protic solvents results in the formation of flat ribbons. This detailed mechanistic study suggests that the self‐assembly follows a nucleation–elongation model to form helical structures, rather than the isodesmic model.     

Organic–inorganic bonding in chitosan–silica hybrid networks: Physical properties

Novel biomaterials are needed for bone tissue repair with improved mechanical performance compared to classical bioceramics. The objective of this work was to characterize a hybrid filler material, which is capable to coat as a thin film porous scaffolds improving their mechanical properties for bone tissue engineering. The hybrid filler material is a blend of chitosan and silica network formed through in situ sol–gel using tetraethylortosilicate and 3‐glycidoxypropyltrimethoxysilane (GPTMS) as silica precursors. The hypothesis was that the epoxy ring of GPTMS could react with the amino groups of chitosan in acidic media while it is also reacting the siloxane groups of hydrolyzed silica precursors. The formation of the hybrid organic–inorganic network was assessed by different physical techniques revealing changes in molecular mobility and hydrophilicity upon chemical reaction. Finally, the cytotoxicity of the samples was also evaluated by MTT assay. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Polym. Sci., Part B: Polym. Phys. 2015 , 53, 1391–1400     

Fractal dimension and phase transition of graphene oxide (GO) doped polyacrylamide

Graphene Oxide (GO)- Polyacrylamide composites prepared between 5 and 50 μl GO were performed by Fluorescence Spectroscopy. The phase transition performed on the composites was measured by calculating the critical exponents, β and γ, respectively. In addition, fractal analysis of the composites was calculated by a fluorescence intensity of 427 nm. The geometrical distribution of GO in the composites was calculated based on the power law exponent values using scaling models. While the gelation proceeded GO plates first organized themselves into a 3D percolation cluster with the fractal dimension (D_f) of the composite, D_f = 2.63, then After it goes to diffusion limited clusters with D_f = 1.4, its dimension lines up to a Von Koch curve with a random interval of D_f = 1.14.     

A Methodology for Estimating Kinetic Parameters and Reactivity Ratios of Multi‐site Type Catalysts Using Polymerization,Fractionation, and Spectroscopic Techniques

This work describes a polymer reaction engineering framework for understanding how catalyst kinetic parameters affect the microstructure of polyolefins made with single‐ or multi‐site catalysts. Moreover, a methodology for deconvolution and kinetic parameters estimation is presented to estimate the reactivity ratios of multi‐site catalysts based on the combination of polymerization, fractionation, and spectroscopic techniques, namely, gel permeation chromatography‐IR and carbon‐13 nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy. The methodology capabilities are then demonstrated and validated using a case study simulated via a Monte Carlo model including random noise in order to better represent experimental result uncertainties. The methodology can reverse engineer experimental results and estimate all relevant reaction performance parameters.     

Versatile light‐responsive organogels: Evaluation of their dye releasing and photoinitiation behaviors

Light‐responsive crosslinked structures were prepared by a straightforward quaternization strategy using chloride functional polystyrene copolymers and commercially available Michler's ketone with varying feed ratios. Resulting organogels demonstrated excellent solvent absorption and their swelling characteristics were altered by UV‐light irradiation. According to scanning electron microscope images, UV‐illuminated samples showed an obvious photodecomposition, which enhanced their solvent uptake capacity with increase of UV exposure. Additionally, release behavior of eosin Y as a model compound was determined by UV–vis and fluorescence spectrometers. Achieved photoactive gels were also employed as the reusable heterogeneous initiators for photoinduced free‐radical polymerization of methyl methacrylate. © 2019 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Polym. Sci., Part A: Polym. Chem. 2019, 57, 1275–1282     

Recent Progress in the Electrolytes of Aqueous Zinc-Ion Batteries

Rechargeable aqueous zinc-ion batteries (ZIBs) have garnered tremendous attention in the field of next energy storage devices due to their high safety, low cost, abundant resources, and eco-friendliness. As an important component of the zinc-ion battery, the electrolyte plays a vital role in the electrochemical properties, since it will provide a pathway for the migrations of the zinc ions between the cathode and anode, and determine the ionic conductivity, electrochemically stable potential window, and reaction mechanism. In this Minireview, a brief introduction of electrochemical principles of the aqueous ZIBs is discussed and the recent advances of various aqueous electrolytes for ZIBs, including liquid, gel, and multifunctional hydrogel electrolytes are also summarized. Furthermore, the remaining challenges and future directions of electrolytes in aqueous ZIBs are also discussed, which could provide clues for the following development.